Chapter 1

During the break, I messaged my internet boyfriend: *Honey, miss you! *

The whole class suddenly shrieked. I looked up and saw a message pop up on the professor’s screen, displaying his contact info.

Holy crap! The content was exactly what I’d just sent!

And his contact name was "Baby"?

The professor smiled, a look of pure indulgence on his face.

"My apologies, everyone. You saw that. Keep it our little secret, okay?"

I stared at the professor, who was standing at the podium, looking seriously at his phone. I was utterly stunned.

While I was still reeling, my phone buzzed with a new message:

"Miss you too."

No way. I was just lonely, so I casually started an online relationship with a gaming buddy. How could he turn out to be the new professor?

I steadied my breathing and sent another message:

"What are you up to?"

The professor closed his laptop, then looked down at his phone again.

Soon after, a message arrived on my phone:

"Just working."

It really was him!

I shyly glanced at the new professor on the podium.

I heard he’d just returned from studying abroad, having earned a Ph.D. from a top-tier international university. He was so young to already be an assistant professor.

His academic background alone was impressive enough, but he also looked exactly like a movie star – tall and incredibly handsome.

The moment he joined the faculty, he caused a stir among all the students and staff.

If Mia hadn’t dragged me to stay up all night to snag a spot in his class, I probably wouldn’t have even had the chance to see him.

But for such an amazing person to be my internet boyfriend? My head was spinning.

Thinking about all the embarrassing things I’d whispered to him every night, I felt incredibly awkward. I couldn’t even sit still.

"Buzz, buzz,"

My phone vibrated again. I opened it.

"Baby, I’m busy right now, but I’ll send you pics of my new abs tonight."

"Chloe, why is your face so red? Do you have a fever?" Mia asked.

I quickly turned off my phone.

"I’m fine, just a little hot."

Mia picked up a book and fanned herself.

"Hmm, it does feel a bit warm."

"Such a handsome professor actually has a girlfriend. Ugh, what a shame."

"Anyway, there’s no harm in looking at handsome guys. Having a girlfriend doesn’t stop us from appreciating him."

People around me were still chattering, completely unaware that the mysterious girlfriend they were talking about was me, sitting right there among them.

The class bell rang again. Julian switched to his lecture slides, looking earnestly at the students below.

"Before we start the next topic, I want to ask you all a question."

"Why do we dream?"

The students below began discussing amongst themselves, while I still held my phone, staring at our chat.

The sheer contrast of it all made my insides burn even hotter. I’d never been in a relationship before, how was I supposed to handle this?

Thinking about the photos he’d send me tonight, my throat suddenly felt dry.

Just as I was lost in my own world, the professor’s face became clearer and clearer right in front of me.

I unconsciously reached out and squeezed it. So soft, hahahaha.

"Chloe, I asked you to share a dream, not to squeeze my face."

The class erupted in laughter. I suddenly realized this was reality and my face flushed crimson with embarrassment.

"I’m so sorry, Professor."

Julian smiled gently.

"Have you had any interesting dreams lately?"

I couldn’t even look him in the eye. "I dreamed..."

For a moment, I couldn’t remember any dreams. A male student nearby snickered.

"Did you dream about a guy and now you’re too shy to say it?!"

"Hahahahaha..."

Hearing that, everyone burst out laughing. I replied decisively.

"Yes, I did dream about a guy!"

Professor Julian raised an eyebrow, about to say something, but I cut him off.

"I dreamed my deceased grandpa missed me. Is that funny?"

Silence instantly fell over the room. I pointed at the male student who’d snickered.

"I don’t mind introducing you to my grandpa."

Professor Julian gave me a deep look. He hadn't expected this seemingly delicate girl to have such a fierce personality.

After class, I quickly fled the classroom.

"Can I drop this class?"

Mia looked bewildered.

"Chloe, are you crazy? We stayed up all night to get into this class, and now you want to drop it?"

Yes, before snagging it, I was only focused on the handsome professor. I never imagined it would involve *me*.

If I had to face Julian every week, I was afraid I’d have a mental breakdown.

"I asked around. If you want to switch classes, you need a signed waiver from the professor himself."

Thinking it over, facing him directly to ask for a waiver seemed worse than just being a regular student in his class.

That night, after I’d showered and gotten into bed, my phone buzzed with multiple messages.

I opened them and almost screamed. He’d sent several photos of his abs.

Though I couldn’t see his face, the outline was definitely Professor Julian.

"Baby, what do you think?"

If I didn’t know who he was, it would be fine. But now that I knew, everything I said felt so constrained.

"Looks good."

"Baby’s so cold. Didn’t you used to beg to see them?"

Yes, if I didn’t know you were my elective professor, I’d be screaming and cheering right now.

I sighed helplessly.

"You’re so hot, babe."

"Baby, you’re being really perfunctory today."

Who would have thought? The professor who lectured us so seriously in the morning was sending messages like this in private.

"I’m a bit tired today, just want to sleep."

Silence from his end. After a long time, a message came:

"Good night, baby."